To guide staff in reviewing applications for the keeping of farm animals on school properties. The Zoning Ordinance permits (Citation to Ordinance) the keeping of farm animals on school property only when approved by the Planning Commission and the City Council through a Conditional Use Permit. The detail to which an application must be evaluated is more complex than should be detailed in the Zoning Ordinance. The following guidelines are to be given to an applicant so they can address them in the application.
1. Purpose - the purpose of the farm application area is to provide particular educational experiences for the students of the school.
2. Residential property - the farm application cannot be combined with land use that also includes a residential structure. This policy recognizes the farm application is a conditional use to the City of Hillsboro’s residential zoning districts. Residential occupation and the farm application are not permitted.
3. Site Plan - the applicant shall provide the City a site plan outlining the boundaries of the property, including lots adjacent to the site where the farm application will be conducted. The site plan will identify the location on the applicant’s property and distances to adjacent offsite structures. The site plan can include both current and future location of structures planned for the farm application.
4. Non Commercial Use - raising animals in the farm application shall be for a non-commercial purpose. Animals raised can be sold or otherwise disposed of and can be replaced by other animals to facilitate the educational purpose for which they are on the property.
5. Lot Size - the minimum lot size for this application shall be 300 x 300 feet.
6. Minimum Distance - the minimum distance to any other structure that is not on the applicant’s property shall be 100 feet measured from the nearest corner of the farm structure (whether it is a fence or a building) to the nearest corner of the offsite Residential structure.
7. Animal containment - all animals, livestock and fowl, shall be contained in a particular area of the property and not allowed to run free except within the boundaries of the farm application. Structures used to house the animals shall be sufficiently strong enough to securely keep the animals from escape.
8. Accessory Buildings - any building accessory to the farm application shall be within the boundaries of the fenced or contained area.
9. Fencing - electrified fencing of any type is not permitted.
10. Nuisances - applicant shall provide a waste management plan. Animal wastes and other wastes from the farm application are not suitable for the City of Hillsboro’s solid waste collection and will not be permitted. Composting of wastes is permissible if odors are managed. Applicant shall use best practices to limit other nuisances like flies, rodents and similar annoyances that would affect the residential neighborhood.
11. End of School - Animals can be kept on the property during the regular school year. A reasonable time will be afforded following the close of the school year to move the animals to another location.
12. Sunset - Conditional Use Permits will allow maintaining the approved use until such time that the farm application is no longer being used. Moving animals, livestock and fowl, each summer and returned each fall shall not affect the effectiveness of the Conditional Use Permit. Should the farm application not occur any particular year, the Conditional Use Permit will expire at the end of the next school session following the last use.